Why conflict is necessary

Conflict occurs when two or more parties disagree and believe that their interests or perspectives are incompatible. It does not have to be unpleasant, and in academic discovery it often ends up being to the benefit of the parties concerned. Conflict is also inevitable; it is a necessary aspect of human interaction. It is impossible to imagine a conflict- free collaborative venture of any description.

What is important to understand is that the presence of conflict does not necessarily mean that something is wrong. In fact, academic progress is driven by disagreements, be it about theories and explanations, about data collection, analysis and interpretation, about methodologies and their application or anything else, and these disagreements play an especially productive role in the generation of new knowledge. It is part of academic training to think critically, evaluate information, and provide alternative ideas. The ability to disagree, then engage in and resolve conflict advances knowledge while also helping to build cohesion in a team. In some respects, viewing conflict as a productive activity can be seen as a component of the team mindset. Approaching a conflict with a mindset of curiosity, exploration, learning, and confidence in its resolution increases the chance of resolving it and means that the process is more satisfying for everyone. Comfort around conflict and disagreement is more regularly seen in the humanities and social sciences than in the life or physical sciences, and this needs to be considered when working in cross- disciplinary teams (Patterson et al, 2012; Stone, Patton, and Heen, 2023).